AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Greenwell Back in Swing, Red Sox Win, 6-5

Mike Greenwell still hasn’t regained his best home run swing, but he is wielding a timely bat in behalf of the Boston Red Sox.

Greenwell had three hits, including a two-run triple in the ninth inning Tuesday night at Cleveland that brought the Red Sox from behind to a 6-5 victory.

Boston’s fifth victory in a row and the collapse of the Toronto Blue Jays has all but wiped out the race in the American League East. As recently as last Thursday, the Blue Jays were only a game behind and talking about taking over the top spot.

But the Red Sox won three in a row at Toronto to take charge and, with the Blue Jays losing five in a row, have stretched their lead to six games.

The Indians built leads of 3-1 and 4-3 and had their outstanding relief pitcher, Doug Jones, on the mound. He worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth.

But he opened the ninth by walking Carlos Quintana and Wade Boggs. Ellis Burks popped out, but Greenwell drilled a pitch into the gap in right center to score both runners. Greenwell scored on Dwight Evans’ single and it turned out to be the important run.

Jeff Gray, who made 10 consecutive appearances covering 14 2/3 innings without giving up a run, finally hit a wild streak and barely survived the bottom of the ninth.

Gray, who has become the closer the Red Sox didn’t think they had after Jeff Reardon had to have surgery, earned his fifth save in the last seven Boston victories.

He walked only two batters in the 10 appearances. But he gave up a single and a walk to the first two batters he faced, wild pitched in a run after a sacrifice, and, had the potential tying run on third with one out.

Gray struck out Chris James, then got Candy Maldonado on a forceout to save the victory.

“It’s amazing how fast we’ve moved out,” Greenwell said. “We’re definitely peaking now. We feel we can win every time out.”

Greenwell, who has only nine home runs this season, is 17 for 44 (.386) in his last 10 games.

Oakland 3, Kansas City 2--The Athletics finally took advantage of the White Sox slump and moved in front by 6 1/2 games in the West.

Danny Tartabull hit a home run in the ninth inning at Oakland to give Kansas City a 2-1 lead.

The A’s had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but Mark McGwire struck out. On a 1-and-2 count, Terry Steinbach, a solid clutch hitter, looped a single into right-center to score two runs and win the game.

Mike Moore (11-12) pitched a six-hitter for his third complete game. Tom Gordon missed the victory when Jeff Montgomery blew his lead.

Milwaukee 6, Toronto 2--Even Dave Stieb, their best pitcher, couldn’t stop the Blue Jays’ skid.

Dave Parker tagged the veteran right-hander for two home runs at Toronto and the Blue Jays lost their fifth in a row.

While Stieb (16-5) was struggling, Jaime Navarro (5-5) was another pitcher who enjoyed the Blue Jays’ slump.

Navarro went the distance, giving up eight hits. In their five defeats, the Blue Jays have scored only four runs.

At the age of 39, Parker doesn’t concede anything to the younger players.

“I’ve been doing this for 18 years,” Parker said after driving in three runs with Nos. 19 and 20. “The key is staying mentally tough.”

Minnesota 12, Chicago 6--The White Sox are also in a slump. Kent Hrbek hit a two-run home run into the upper deck in the fifth inning at Minneapolis to put the Twins ahead to stay.

The White Sox, who have lost four in a row, have been hammered in the last two by the Twins. They have been outscored, 19-6.

Hrbek was one of four Twins who had two hits in a game that became a rout with a five-run eighth.

New York 11, Baltimore 3--The best cure for one of Jesse Barfield’s slumps is to face Oriole pitching.

Barfield went four for four at Baltimore, including a two-run, tiebreaking home run in the fourth inning.

Barfield has hit five of his 20 home runs in 26 at-bats against the Orioles this season.

Seattle 4, Detroit 3--Edgar Martinez hit a two-run home run with one out in the ninth at Seattle to give the Mariners the victory.

All the runs came on home runs. Ken Griffey Jr. hit a two-run smash for Seattle, and Lou Whitaker hit a three-run homer to put the Tigers ahead.